The Crucifixion
Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?” Matthew 27:13 · Berean Standard Bible
Pilate is baffled: do You not hear how many things they are accusing You of?
Pilate has seen many prisoners. They all talk — they plead, argue, bargain. Jesus' silence is unlike anything he has ever encountered.
Pilate speaks to Jesus with growing astonishment at His refusal to defend Himself.
You can hear the confusion in Pilate's voice. He does not understand. In his world, everyone fights for their life. Jesus does not.
Pilate presses Jesus, expressing surprise at His refusal to respond to the numerous (posa) charges, attempting to draw out a defense.
Roman trial procedure expected the accused to respond to charges. Jesus' silence is so unusual that Pilate — an experienced jurist — is visibly perplexed.
Pilate addresses Jesus directly, pressing for any response to the accusations.
The Roman governor, accustomed to defendants pleading for their lives, encounters something unprecedented — an accused man who will not speak a word in His own defense.
11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?”
12And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.
13Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?”
14But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.
15Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.
Read all of Matthew 27 — The climax of the story. Every thread — sacrifice, covenant, prophecy, promise — converges at a cross outside Jerusalem.
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